The Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa regarding a money laundering case linked to the online betting platform 1xBet. Uthappa spent over eight hours at the ED’s Bengaluru office as officials investigated violations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
ED Investigates Celebrity Endorsements
According to Deccan Herald, the ED is checking whether celebrities who promoted 1xBet received payments that qualify as proceeds of crime. In addition, investigators want to know the nature of the contracts, the payment methods, and whether the endorsers understood that online betting was illegal in India.
The case has expanded in recent weeks. Officials summoned cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan, as well as actors Mimi Chakraborty and Ankush Hazra. Meanwhile, actor Sonu Sood and former cricketer Yuvraj Singh will meet the agency later this week.
Officials Examine Payment Channels
Sources report that the ED focuses on whether celebrities received payments through legitimate banking channels or illegal methods such as hawala. Therefore, authorities asked the celebrities to submit contracts and communication records to clarify their dealings with the betting company.
India Tightens Online Gambling Regulations
The Indian Government issued 1,524 blocking orders for online gambling platforms between 2022 and June 2025. In addition, authorities accused 1xBet of bypassing regulations and evading taxes. To tackle these risks, the government recently banned real-money online gaming, citing links to fraud, addiction, and financial crimes.
Market Context and ED Strategy
Before the ban, India’s online betting market generated over $100 billion, with around 220 million users, half of whom played regularly. As a result, the ED has actively launched investigations to track financial crimes stemming from online gambling, aiming to hold violators accountable and enforce compliance.
